Prepararsi al rientro

IN QUESTE ORE, mentre noi dormiamo, si sta per concludere la STS-133. La Discovery (OV-103) sta per tornare a Terra per poi venire messa in disarmo. Dopodiché, rimarranno altre due missioni, e poi il programma spaziale dello Shuttle, il più complesso manufatto mai costruito dall'uomo, verrà chiuso.

Money Quote: At 4:11 p.m. EST, hatches were closed between space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station. The hatches between the two spacecraft were opened at 4:16 p.m. on February 26 and remained open for joint crew operations for a total of 7 days, 23 hours, and 55 minutes.

Prior to hatch closure, the shuttle and station crews exchanged farewells. Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey thanked station Commander Scott Kelly for the hospitality. Kelly responded, “It was a very successful time onboard. We enjoyed having you as guests, we’re going to miss you, and we’re going to miss space shuttle Discovery. Discovery been a great ship and has really supported ISS more than any other shuttle and we wish her fair winds and following seas. Thank you.”

Discovery’s six crew members will awaken to a special song with a surprise twist at 3:23 a.m. Monday, “Theme from Star Trek” by Alexander Courage. It was the runner-up in the wakeup song contest - https://songcontest.nasa.gov/.

At 7 a.m. Monday, Discovery will undock from station.